Today (Dec. 19), ASCAP and Nielsen announced a strategic multi-pronged, long-term data agreement where Nielsen will provide ASCAP with expanded U.S. radio airplay data along with metadata and unique identifiers for recordings.

Coupled with ASCAP’s membership and copyright data, this partnership will allow ASCAP to provide its members with transparency as ASCAP brings together the verified recording information with its authoritative data on the underlying works. In addition, this data link of unique identifiers creates the potential for more efficient performance matching and reporting.

ASCAP also intends to utilize a wide range of Nielsen measurement tools and insights to create innovative reporting capabilities and services that will be developed by ASCAP’s recently formed Digital Product & Data Team. These offerings will be made available to ASCAP members through ASCAP’s re-launched Member Access portal.

“ASCAP has been pursuing a strategy of remaining flexible and nimble by pursuing partnerships with best-in-class service providers” said ASCAP’s CEO, Elizabeth Matthews. “As the market-leader in consumer, music and audio measurement, Nielsen’s data will bring additional frequency and breadth to ASCAP’s reporting, enabling ASCAP’s members to have a 360-degree view of the performance landscape for their music, while enabling faster and more accurate reporting and tracking across all platforms. This deal also sets the stage for us to provide our members with new business intelligence tools with predictive analytics components.”

“Nielsen is excited to work with ASCAP to provide its songwriter and publisher members with more efficient and effective business tools,” said Nielsen Entertainment’s President, Howard Appelbaum. “This agreement brings together two world-class organizations that excel at using data to increase transparency within the music sector, including music creators.”